N.J. Democrats Embrace School Choice

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For years, the Democratic Party has resisted education reforms
that give parents greater freedom to choose their children's
schools. But a group of New Jersey Democrats is now breaking ranks
with its party in a move that could have implications across the
nation.

Assemblywoman Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D-Camden) and four Democrat
colleagues are sponsoring legislation to create a corporate tax
credit program that would allow businesses to provide tuition
scholarships to 4,000 low-income children in Camden, Newark, Orange
and Trenton. These students could leave their public schools and
attend private schools of their parents' choice. Similar
legislation has been proposed in the State Senate.

Cruz-Perez explains her support for this measure: "Expanding
schooling and program options for low-income, often minority,
students in urban school systems is the most immediate way to
address poor educational prospects for these families. It is a
necessary step and an urgent one that will also rebuild these
neighborhoods and cities."

This is an argument that parents understand. On Monday, hundreds
of inner-city parents from across New Jersey will gather on the
steps of the state capitol to rally in support of the measure. The
New Jersey School Choice Alliance, a coalition of 40 civic groups
from across the state, is leading the effort to bring school choice
to the Garden State .

Supporters of the measure will face a powerful opponent: The New
Jersey Education Association, the state's 190,000-member teachers
union. Teachers unions and other public school interest groups
oppose school choice, viewing any attempt to give parents greater
ability to remove their children from the public school system as a
threat to their livelihood.

The teachers union won't be the only obstacle school choice
backers will face. Both Acting Governor Richard Codey and
Governor-elect Jon Corzine are on record against school vouchers.
To build support, the bill's sponsors included a provision to allow
for business contributions that would aid public schools in the
cities, but it's unlikely that this will be enough to win over
traditional union allies.

Developments in New Jersey signal that school choice may finally
be reaching a tipping point. Until now, few Democrats have broken
their party's traditional allegiance with teachers unions to
embrace school choice. The few exceptions are noteworthy:
Democratic Wisconsin State Representative Polly Williams was the
lead sponsor of the pioneering Milwaukee voucher program. D.C.
Mayor Anthony Williams was joined by Democratic Senators Robert
Byrd, Diane Fienstein, and Joe Lieberman to bring school vouchers
to the nation's capital. But New Jersey shows that these notable
few are now being joined by rank and file Democrats.

Supporting school choice should come naturally to Democrats. After
all, Democrats cast themselves as advocates for poor urban
populations-a constituency trapped in the worst public schools and
desperately seeking new options. Low-income families now reject the
party line that public schools simply need more money and more time
to improve. Money and time have been tried before without
results.

The Rev. Reginald Jackson, Executive Director of the Black
Ministers Council of New Jersey, explains his support for school
choice: "It's the right solution at the right time for the children
and the schools in these cities. These children, cosigned to our
urban schools, have no time to wait for access to effective schools
and innovative programs."

Parents and community leaders are right to put their faith in
school choice, as over 100,000 children now benefit from
scholarship programs across the nation. In fact, the proposed New
Jersey program was inspired by a corporate tax credit program
created in Pennsylvania in 2001. Similar school choice programs
also exist in Arizona and Florida , and school voucher programs are
helping children in Cleveland , Milwaukee , and Washington , D.C.
If these programs are any guide, a scholarship program in New
Jersey will increase parental satisfaction and boost student test
scores.

Democrats supporting school choice are likely to discover that a
vote for school choice is like a fine wine: it will only get better
with time. Years from now-when the opportunity for inner-city
parents to choose their children's schools becomes the norm-these
New Jersey legislators will be lauded for their leadership in
putting these children's futures ahead of special-interest groups.
We can only hope their colleagues in the state House and Senate
will muster the same courage.

Dan Lips is an
education policy analyst at The Heritage Foundation, a
Washington-based public policy research institute.